Comprehensive Exam for MS Students in Coursework Option
General Information
Mechanical Engineering Master Students in the Coursework Option are required to pass a comprehensive exam before graduating. (This requirement does not apply to the other two MS Degree Options).
The exam is typically administered by a faculty with whom the student took at least one course included in his/her Degree Plan. The examiner is assigned by the Director of Graduate Studies, but the
student has an opportunity to provide suggestions when submitting the Comprehensive Exam Request
Form.
Scheduling Comprehensive Exam
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At the beginning of the semester students who intend to graduate submit the Comprehensive
Exam Request Form to Gwen Clymo at Gwen.Clymo@ttu.edu or in ME Office 104. The
examiner will be selected based on the student record and the information provided in the
form.
After the student has been notified about the examiner selection, it is the student's responsibility to coordinate with the chosen professor to schedule a date, time and place to take the exam.
Students who do not pass the Comprehensive Exam by the deadline will not be able to graduate
that term and will need to enroll in the following semester.
Comprehensive Exam Format and Requirements
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The exam is written, open books and notes, and lasts approximately 2 ½ hours
The exam is based on graduate courses completed by the student; it can include problems
related to individual courses and also questions that require a synthesis of knowledge from
different areas of mechanical engineering science.
The student should discuss the exam scope and format with the examiner in advance, and
reserve sufficient time for preparations and reviewing the material.
Submission of the Comprehensive Exam Results
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The Comprehensive Exam should take place prior to the Graduate School deadline, during the
semester of graduation. Consult the Graduate School Academic Calendar for important dates
and deadlines.
To report the outcome of the Comprehensive Exam, a Report on Comprehensive Exam Form
needs to be completed. The professor who administered the exam will submit the signed form
to Graduate School. A copy of the form also needs to be submitted to Gwen Clymo at
Gwen.Clymo@ttu.edu.
o The form is available at:
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/gradschool/media/Comprehensive%20Exam%20Report%20(Non-Thesis%20Option%20Only).pdf
Revised 03/11/2016